Flexibility, bio-security key improvements to J.E. Hawker pavilion
http://www.fairviewpost.com/2017/03/22/flexibility-bio-security-key-to-jehawker-improvements
Chris Eakin
Fairview Post
Fairview Post
When Dallas Schwerdt and her husband Garry took on management of the J.E. Hawker pavilion, it seemed obvious the change would be for the better, if only because they would be able to devote more time to it than the college administration had been able to and they had the expertise from running equestrian events on their own property.
They have made improvements, not only to the management of the facility, but to the actual facility itself, investing thousands of their own dollars to make it safer for horses and their riders and owners as well as more flexible in the kind of events that can easily be held there.
Dallas Schwerdt spoke to the Rotary Club of Fairview March 3 and said they had spent “well into six figures” to make it more user friendly.
Among other things, they have improved the stall layout, an outside barn and rebuilt an outside riding ring, as well as the riding surface inside the pavilion.
She explained Black Gold Barrel Racing Championship held at the pavilion had a huge impact on Fairview’s local economy and weekend clinics held there bring people in from out of town who spend dollars at hotels, restaurants and gas stations.
One result of the improvements has been an increase in the number of people who board their horses at the college, even those who live in the area, because it is simpler to board them there than keep them at home when they would have to truck them into town to ride in events here.
Boarding in the summer is minimal, because local people then can ride at home and may also be taking their horses to events out of town.
One of the improvements the Schwerdts carried out was to change the riding surface.
The pavilion was designed as an instructional facility more than an events facility and the riding surface was dirt. It wasn’t easy to clean and it wasn’t friendly to all different types of equestrian and other events. One example she mentioned was the 4-H show and sale.
Previously, after the show, removing straw and manure also meant the lose of a certain amount of dirt.
Now with the sand base, they can “pack it like concrete” before the event and the losss from cleaning up is minimal.
They also purchased a professional grooming machine – the same type as used for major events - which they use to prepare the surface correctly for different types of events.
There are challenges, such as the need to hire part-time people to help keep the pavilion cleaned, groom the surface correctly – she said many of the part-time students have never driven a tractor before and space inside the pavilion is tight, so maneouvering the tractor in and out of the ring can be difficult.
They have had to back off on offering riding lessons because it took time away from their bread and butter. They can still offer riding lessons, but only to riders who have their own horses.
They try to be diverse in the clinicians they bring in, from basic horsemanship to reining to roping and both western and English style events.
Bio-security is a concern for anyone who owns animals or who works with them and Schwerdts have had to arrange things to protect the horses. Horses that are boarded there are kept separately from those who are brought in for events.
They have 30 horses boarding during the winter and another 30 who come and go.
They have to make sure all horses have required innoculations for certain mosquito born diseases.
The small hip roof barn east of the pavilion has been renovated, getting heat and light to make it more comfortable for both horses and owners.
The stalls must be cleaned and properly sanitized between horses and the pavilion including the concrete walkways and metal rails cleaned between events.
They built a 150’X300’ outdoor arena – there was one there previously but it hadn’t been used in some time and the new one is designed for the type of events likely to happen here. It has been well used over the summer – most people would rather ride outside in the summer than in the pavilion.
Fairview has a new vet with equestrian expertise and they are working to build up confidence in the local horse-owner community. They have the most up-to-date therapy equipment including a vibration plate, icing machine and electro-magnetic blanket.
Asked if the Black and Gold event would be returning to Fairview, Schwerdt advised the questioner not to hold their breath.
Although she would love to bring it back, the event was put on hold due to lack of sponsorship dollars and while the economy has improved, she doesn’t believe it has improved enough for the kind of funding needed to run a high-calibre event with lots of prize money.
She also said they could do more advertising for the facility to bring in more users and are considering a display night with different disciplines putting on a show.
They have made improvements, not only to the management of the facility, but to the actual facility itself, investing thousands of their own dollars to make it safer for horses and their riders and owners as well as more flexible in the kind of events that can easily be held there.
Dallas Schwerdt spoke to the Rotary Club of Fairview March 3 and said they had spent “well into six figures” to make it more user friendly.
Among other things, they have improved the stall layout, an outside barn and rebuilt an outside riding ring, as well as the riding surface inside the pavilion.
She explained Black Gold Barrel Racing Championship held at the pavilion had a huge impact on Fairview’s local economy and weekend clinics held there bring people in from out of town who spend dollars at hotels, restaurants and gas stations.
One result of the improvements has been an increase in the number of people who board their horses at the college, even those who live in the area, because it is simpler to board them there than keep them at home when they would have to truck them into town to ride in events here.
Boarding in the summer is minimal, because local people then can ride at home and may also be taking their horses to events out of town.
One of the improvements the Schwerdts carried out was to change the riding surface.
The pavilion was designed as an instructional facility more than an events facility and the riding surface was dirt. It wasn’t easy to clean and it wasn’t friendly to all different types of equestrian and other events. One example she mentioned was the 4-H show and sale.
Previously, after the show, removing straw and manure also meant the lose of a certain amount of dirt.
Now with the sand base, they can “pack it like concrete” before the event and the losss from cleaning up is minimal.
They also purchased a professional grooming machine – the same type as used for major events - which they use to prepare the surface correctly for different types of events.
There are challenges, such as the need to hire part-time people to help keep the pavilion cleaned, groom the surface correctly – she said many of the part-time students have never driven a tractor before and space inside the pavilion is tight, so maneouvering the tractor in and out of the ring can be difficult.
They have had to back off on offering riding lessons because it took time away from their bread and butter. They can still offer riding lessons, but only to riders who have their own horses.
They try to be diverse in the clinicians they bring in, from basic horsemanship to reining to roping and both western and English style events.
Bio-security is a concern for anyone who owns animals or who works with them and Schwerdts have had to arrange things to protect the horses. Horses that are boarded there are kept separately from those who are brought in for events.
They have 30 horses boarding during the winter and another 30 who come and go.
They have to make sure all horses have required innoculations for certain mosquito born diseases.
The small hip roof barn east of the pavilion has been renovated, getting heat and light to make it more comfortable for both horses and owners.
The stalls must be cleaned and properly sanitized between horses and the pavilion including the concrete walkways and metal rails cleaned between events.
They built a 150’X300’ outdoor arena – there was one there previously but it hadn’t been used in some time and the new one is designed for the type of events likely to happen here. It has been well used over the summer – most people would rather ride outside in the summer than in the pavilion.
Fairview has a new vet with equestrian expertise and they are working to build up confidence in the local horse-owner community. They have the most up-to-date therapy equipment including a vibration plate, icing machine and electro-magnetic blanket.
Asked if the Black and Gold event would be returning to Fairview, Schwerdt advised the questioner not to hold their breath.
Although she would love to bring it back, the event was put on hold due to lack of sponsorship dollars and while the economy has improved, she doesn’t believe it has improved enough for the kind of funding needed to run a high-calibre event with lots of prize money.
She also said they could do more advertising for the facility to bring in more users and are considering a display night with different disciplines putting on a show.